Tossup

A contemporary historian remarked that a successful siege conducted by this Greek city merely taught the defenders “not to let a river run through one’s walls.” The acquittal of Sphodrias (“SFOH-dree-us”) after he tried to seize a port was dubbed this city’s “most unjust verdict.” Forces from this city were ambushed at Lechaeum (“leh-KEE-um”) by peltasts that (10[1])were led by Iphicrates (“if-ICK-ruh-teez”). A diplomat from this city negotiated a treaty within which King Artaxerxes II gained control over the Greeks of Asia; that Peace of Antalcidas (“an-TAL-sid-us”) ended the Corinthian War. An alliance at the Second Battle of Mantinea opposed this city’s ruler Agesilaus II (10[1])(“uh-jess-ih-LAY-us the second”). This city was defeated by Pelopidas (“peh-LOP-id-us”) and Epaminondas (10[1])(“ep-uh-min-ON-duss”) at the Battle (10[1])of Leuctra, (10[1])a victory for (10[1])Thebes. For 10 points, name this city that attained hegemony after defeating Athens in the Peloponnesian War. ■END■

ANSWER: Sparta [or Spártē or Lacedaemon] (The first line, recorded in Xenophon’s Hellenica, refers to the siege of Mantinea.)
<AT, Other History>
= Average correct buzz position

Back to tossups